The first child abuse reporting law in California was enacted in 1963. It mandated only that physicians must report evidence of physical abuse. A broader law, The Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, was passed in 1980. Over the years, numerous amendments have expanded the definition of child abuse and the list of persons who are required to report it.
Since employees of Sacramento Valley Adult & Teen Challenge fall in the category of a mandated reporter, you are required to report suspected abuse to local child protective authorities. To fail to do so constitutes a crime. This next lesson goes through who needs to report and how to make a report.